photo challenge

Glass

Glass

Guess I got a little too excited about taking Disney character photos last weekend!

Another follow-up – this time to day 10.  I spend all kinds of time making sure my lenses are protected.  Lens hoods.  Lens caps.  UV filters.  Protective bags and pouches.  And I’ve been successful.  So with all that energy focused on the lenses, I got a little careless with the other end of the camera recently.  The LCD screen on the back of the camera.

Typically the LCD screen is exposed.  Luckily the Canon 60D LCD screen has a protective layer of glass on top.  It saved my LCD screen for sure.  Guess I’ll be investing in one of these for my 7D.

Bundle

Can you tell I'm a big Apple fan. Just saying.

Can you tell I’m a big Apple fan? Just saying.

I don’t consider myself a computer geek at all.  In fact, just today I contacted SmugMug to ask how to point this domain to my SmugMug galleries.  I got some kind of gobbledegook back that makes no sense to me.

Instead, I get “geeked-up” about computers because I’m excited about how creative they allow me to be.  Or how efficient.  So when I opened Final Cut Pro X for the first time in quite a while, I got geeked up.  Those of you who couldn’t care less about software editing workflows can just stop reading now.

I’ve been editing with FCP X since it was released.  I was one of the early adopters.  And through all the criticism and complaining from the world at large, I stuck with it.  And I’m glad I did.  They’ve improved big time.  I could go on all day, but I’ll spare you.  This latest update is huge in terms of workflow, organization and efficiency.

They’ve bundled the events and projects into libraries now just like in Aperture.  They’ve bundled them.  Together.  This is huge.

Alright, I’m a geek.

Shiny

What's on your desk?

What’s on your desk?

“Though the male can be noble in reason and infinite in faculties, he is also easily amused by shiny toys, especially ones that do dumb things on his desk.”

Patricia Marx

These are some of the thoroughly “male” items I found as I’ve cleaned out my desk over the past couple weeks.  I’m curious what others have on their desks…

Every Day I…

My home office is taking shape. Definitely saving money on gas these days.

My home office is taking shape. Definitely saving money on gas these days.

Here’s a follow up to day 2.  I’ve gotten my workspace to a comfortable point.  You know, that place where it’s cleaned off enough that you can start working in it, but you know there’s more to cleaning than shoving stuff to the other side of the room.  For now, the only angle of this room will be this one.  Nobody sees the other side of the room.

So, for now, this is my commute to my new office where every day, I go to work in my PJ’s.  Things could be worse.  Things could be much worse.

Artwork

Wishes at The Magic Kingdom. It's always a challenge to shoot something from a unique vantage point.

Wishes at The Magic Kingdom. It’s always a challenge to shoot something from a unique vantage point.

Shooting fireworks is fun and I’m always fascinated by how well choreographed they are.  It’s just a huge light painting in the sky.  So cool!

Tonight, I got to watch the Magic Kingdom firework display from a different vantage point.

Open

Early bird gets the worm situation. This is what Walk Disney World's Magic Kingdom looks like at 4:30 am.

Order a print of this image.

Kudos to all the runners who completed the Run Disney Half Marathon today.  And good luck to all who will be running the full tomorrow.  I’ve been supporting my sister at Walt Disney World and am extremely tired from my 2:30 am start.  Same time tomorrow so this will be short and sweet.

Getting to my first viewing position this morning was kinda creepy, but neat at the same time.  If you ever get the chance to ride the Disney monorail completely alone – take it.  It’s spooky but calming and peaceful.

Plus you just might get to see one of the theme parks before they open it.

Outdoors

I knew going into this that I wouldn’t create a piece of art every day.  But it’s also my goal to improve my photography skills.  I’m pretty happy with this one so I’ve made it available to order.

So I just had one of those “Holy crap!  I’m my father now” moments.  In this age of electronics and instant gratification, it’s not surprising that my son just wants to play video games all day.  So I recommended that he find something else to do – maybe something outside.

But I started the conversation “When I was a kid…”

Am I officially old now?

Fresh

Stop and Look

Fresh Perspective

Have you ever stopped to look at something that you’ve seen a “million” times before?  I mean really stopped to look at it?

Alright, I’m guilty of breaking my own rules…wait, this is my blog.  I didn’t actually take this image today, but it wasn’t long ago (New Years Eve to be exact), but it demonstrates my thoughts on photography.  I’m always snapping off frame after frame of, seemingly, useless images.  I have a digital camera, why not?!

Taking these “useless” images has forced me to look at the world around me differently.  In terms of photography, I’m always working.

Take a look around you.  What do you see?

If you didn’t stop to look before, perhaps you will now.

Relax

Days are getting longer. Can't wait!

Days are getting longer. Can’t wait!

As busy as I feel right now, I suppose I do need to take some time and relax.  For those who know me, this doesn’t really fit my style.  Every moment is a photographic opportunity for me.  I was recently at my Father-In-Law’s retirement party and purposefully left my camera in the car.  His office wanted a group picture and guess who they asked to take it?!  So many people throughout my life have recommended that I put down the camera and enjoy the moment.  But I’m enjoying the moment by photographing it – I can do both.  I’ll relax on those 50-mile bike rides I’m looking forward to once the weather turns!

by the way, wonder if any of my cycling friends (or non-cycling friends for that matter) will spot the inherent flaw in this photo…

One-A-Day

One-A-Day for January ’14

So I’ve been researching it and considering doing it and have finally decided that I’m going for it.  Starting tomorrow, I’ll be participating in a “Photo-A-Day” journey along with all the other things I’ve told myself that I’m going to do in 2014.  I’m not really sure how it works as far as posting – of course, right now I have plenty of time to post every day.  I think it counts as long as I take the photo every day.

I landed on this page for the actual topic ideas for January.